​On Tuesday, Obed Vargas played his third consecutive World Cup match for the Mexican men’s national team, contributing to a 2-0 victory over Ecuador at Guadalajara Stadium and helping Mexico advance undefeated from the opening knockout stage. He came on in the 73rd minute, logging more than 17 minutes of action, and with the win, Vargas and Mexico moved on to the round of 16. Mexico will return to action Tuesday at 4 p.m. Alaska time to square off with England in Mexico City.
Meanwhile, for the first time since the Anchorage Wolverines began play in 2021, a former player was selected in the NHL Draft over the weekend. Former Wolverines goaltender Leo Henriquez was chosen 170th overall in the sixth round by the Boston Bruins. “This is a tremendous accomplishment for Leo and his family, and a special moment for our organization as he becomes the first NHL Draft pick in team history,” said Wolverines general manager Merit Waldrop. “We wish Leo the very best as he takes the next step in his hockey career.” Henriquez appeared in 24 games for the Wolverines during the 2024-25 season, posting a stellar .923 save percentage before earning a call-up to the USHL’s Green Bay Gamblers for the 2025-26 season. He now joins a Bruins organization that already features Alaska-tied goalie Jeremy Swayman, who just wrapped his best season to date.
“Today is a historic day for the Anchorage Wolverines as we celebrate our first NHL Draft pick, but more importantly, a well-deserved accomplishment for Leo,” said Wolverines co-owner Kari Ellsworth. “Anyone who watched him play at Sullivan Arena knows how gifted he is and how lucky we were to have him in a Wolverines jersey. We’re proud to have been part of his journey and can’t wait to see what comes next. Congratulations, Leo.”
In track and field, Chugiak High School star Benjamin Hiestand added to his accolades after defending his Division I state discus title in late May. He shattered a nearly 40-year-old program record at the USATF Pacific Northwest Association Junior Olympic Championships in Tacoma, Washington, with a throw of 183 feet, 6 inches, surpassing Erich Scheunemann’s 1989 mark by 19 inches.
Fairbanks athlete Kendall Kramer earned a spot in the 2026 WMRA Mountain Running World Cup by finishing fourth at the USATF Uphill Mountain Running Championships in Olympic Valley, California last month. The former University of Alaska Fairbanks and West Valley High School standout finished with a time of 48 minutes, 14 seconds, just 19 seconds behind third-place finisher Stephanie Bruce.